National Republican., 1887-04-19
Tho Can't of InhumanltY.

AS IN tne case OF liberty hOrr1blo crimes
have been committed in the name OF rell-
gion until, even at the present time, there
is scarcely single ecclesiastical establish
ment or religious sect In the universe which
docs not include some members who are so
penetrated with religious fervor that, In
| order TO deprive erring brethren Of the
| blessed hope Of everlasting perditlon, they
would willingly establish another inquisi-
| tion-called by some nicer name. or course,
all sane people know that this is not the
true spirit Of Christianity, but then there
are great many people who are not sane
| and who always fail to understand the true
spirit Of anything except that of Ignorance,
arrogance, and the big brother, selhshuess.
Humanity is another word which, like
| liberty and religion, has been dragged
through the mlre until Its very name might
| be expressed In Dr. Johnson's definition OF
| another term-'the last refuge OF scoun-
drel." Yet, Notwithstanding this deterora-
| tion In the current value Of noble sy mbols,
/ there are those who still believe In liberty,
religion, and humanity, as there undoubt-
| edly are many who have made q cult,is OF
the "whatever.is.is. best" policy, and ele.
waited It's corollary "Laissez .faire" into
form Of worship which can have no more
/ appropriate title than "the religion OF In
| humanity
| This dissertation is called forth by book
| notice In the columns Of a contemporary
which has an amusing fashion-without the
least apparent pretension to knowledge OF
any sort-of deciding &C cdthedrd, In the
serious manner Of the late Mr.. Toots, upon
questions Of the greatest difficulty and i'm
portance.
Miss Helen Campbell, Of New York, has
just republished in book called "Pris-
oners of Poverty" number OF her contri-
buttons which attracted much attention in
the Tribune. This volume describes the
miserable condition of whole classes of
working women in New York city. One
would think that no subject OF human in
terest should deserve more serious or intel
ligent consideration, yet "Mr. Toots,n our
esteemed contemporary, disposes Of Miss
Campbell's benevolent labors as follows
Itlis also needless for Miss Campbell to tell
| the world that in New York "grinding poverty
and fabulous wealth walk side by side"
What Of ~ That Is the normal condition Of
things; II dt,odys has been and dlUays tUin be-
Miss Campbell thinks that until one has de-
fined justice the questions that perplex can
have no solution for this generation or for any
generation to come. This is pure sentiment
1t is not admitted that any injustice is done.
Misfortune doesn necessarily imply injustice.
Labor Is a commodity, Ike tCheat or potatoes, aud
is bought and sold in the open market. 1t is
subject to the natural law of demand and sup.
ply. Ifwomen will do plain sewing, of which
To G,1l tha,, 10 4,
very plain pay. They have the remedy to
some extent in their own hands. Let then,
train themselves 10 do that for Which there is ne
greatest demand and The highest wages, and they
lpiH be able to dress in sir and keep carriage.
Again Miss Campbell calls New York "The
city which affords the largest percentage OF
drunkards rs well as the largest number of
liquor saloons to the mile" &c. This state
ment is wide Of the mark. Coz. HRi, In his
rcto message of the high license bill, shows that
New York and Brooklyn have smaller num-
Der of saloons in proportion to the inhabitants
than almost every other city in New York
state. Facts are facts, and Miss Campbell, in
her search for truth, must stick to them.
Readers OF our esteemed contemporary
| are SO accustomed to this sort OF unreason-
ing, disconnected "rot, that 1t is almost
condoning the offense to take any notice OF
r | 1t. But, when IN answer to calm and
lucid statement Of the appalling misery
existing in the second wealthiest city Of the
world, writer says, "What of itp This is
: the normal condition of things; 1t always
! has been, and always will be-" a thinking
person will decide upon one Of two things
, | Either the writer OF the book notice Is on
idiot, or civilization is an abject and hope
r less failure. No man believes that civliza
: 1 tlon is o failure, therefore q decision car
promptly be reached.
This precious book notice affords basi:
for catechism Of the religion of inhuman
!, ity. With all the confidence of scottish igno.
!, rance and vulgarity 1t jumbles up poverty
/; and potatoes, silks and saloons, labor ant
: liquor license, all dominated by the whisky
i favoring message OF the governor Of New
York state.
If the present condition of society fairl
represented its normal state, and II grind
. ing poverty is to be always the lot OF 81
= large a number Of our fellow.creatures q
If the New York researches Of Miss Campbell
i find existing proportionately at present
i then Christianity is ridiculous falsehood
e art, science, literature, and mechanical In
y venuon are as important as Chinese pu2
n zle; "ale and cakes" are the supreme good
At Schopenhauer's pessimlsm is the only ra
lie tional creed, and universal suicide offer
1t the sole remedy for the intolerable miser
Of an accursed human race.